Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-11-25
FARM and HOUSEHOLD.
KINDNESS TO HORSES.

That kindness is the Only true
method OF teaching horses, and that
it is fully appreciated by them has
been fully demonstrated by Prof.
Bartholomew, the great horse-tra'n'
er and educator. He says;
"a horse is as capable of under
standing what is required OF him as
man, if the same care is exercised
in his training and treatment. "A
horse knows when he is i'll treated,
and he knows who his friend or
enemy is. In training my own
horses have observed this fact
constantly, and, more, that horse
is capable of approaching praise
for the work he has performed Az
the close of difficult performance
which the horse has gone through
with credit, have simply caressed
his neck, patted his head, or mere
" uttered some phrase OF common
dation, AMI the animal has respond
ell by clearly intelligent glance
of the eye, a sigh of sctlsfactlon'
and a glad relaxation of his entire
frame, as eloquent in expression 10
me as the smile of pleasure upon
the face of man who receives MS
need of praise ter q merltorlous
action.
believe the horse has mind,
memory, and higher Intelligence
than lie is credited with. Horses
dream, and that implies memory
In giving my performance | have
often been compelled to feed my
animals on the stage after a natl
nee and to allow them to remain
until the evening performance
They would gather around their
tub of oats, eat their fill, preserv-
ing all the decorum OF well-bred
human beings, drink their water,
stand around little while until the
process of digestion began to act,
and then lie down--not exactly
Wrapping the drapery OF their
couch about them, to be sure, but
certainly to pleasant dreams. The
muttered whiauy, the shake of the
head, the movement of the lips, the
sleepy bot forcible stroke OF tue feet
at intervals, by each one Of the
band, is evidence sufficient to me
that they were dreaming, that tteir
waking thoughts and the memory
OF actions while waking were pass
ing through their brains in sleep.
\ horse, or any other intelligent
animal, must understand what is
required of him, and so must a
human being. You may stand be-
fore an annual and talk 10 him all
day and produce no efect-he will
not understand you, neither would
man. But accompany the voice
with action and he Will soon learn
to obey the voice even when the
action is absent You should never
attempt 10 force a horse to do what
he does not understand, and it is
not generally good policy to compel
him to act contrary to his inclina-
tons when he is physically un-
willing.
| have watched my horses so
closely that can tell when they |
are ailing even before their grooms |
have discovered the fact and before
they have shown an indispOsition
in feeding or otherwise. | notice
the slightest deviation from their
usual action, aud if it ia repeated
permit the animal TO rest or retire
entirely. Sometimes horse will
attempt to perform in a pertunctory
manner. He will be willing enough,
but to nay view he will feel that the
performance is a task, aud know
that there is something wrong. The
result has shown that | have in no
instance been deceived.
Ny rule throughout is kindness.
The same kindness / would use IN
training an intelligent child, cor
rectlng them when necessary, com
mending them at all times when
they deserve it. But above all
things Throughout my career as an
of trained horses l have
endeaycred to teach those who
have the care and control OF horses
that tho best method of manage
Insnt is gentleness and mercy. | ;
never fail, where ] give my exhibit
tons, to invite such men as hack
drivers, car conductors and truck !;
men to attend my performances at =.
zone one OF the exhibitions free of
'harse, that they may see the :
Ugh st results Of kindly treatment, !
nd he perfection Of obedience TO
'hich these animals may be
rou.it by this means" I
HIufloIuc N Mivc UlfllIrIc